Day 5 preview - Aussies aim for more gold

Another exciting day of competition at the Olympics Games in Rio with a number of medal prospects in competition. Our team sports have important matches and a highlight will be Australia vs USA in the men’s basketball.

WATER POLO – Men: Australia vs Japan

Rio time: 09:00. AEST: Thursday 22:00

After a terrific draw against former Olympic champions Hungary, and a narrow loss to Brazil, Australia will be looking for its first win against 2020 Olympic hosts Japan.

ARCHERY

Rio time: 09:00. AEST: 22:00

Taylor Worth has reached the last 16 and his teammate Ryan Tyack will be aiming to join him today. Tyack won a historic first men’s teams medal on Day 1 in Rio. If he is successful today, it will be the first occasion in history we have had two athletes in the final 16 competitors.

As the beach volleyball tournament continues on Rio’s famous Copacabana Beach,the Aussie team of Taliqua Clancy and Louise Bawden are looking really impressive with two wins from two games to lead Pool F. They will comfortably progress to the next round, but before they finish their pool games they have a major test against Dutch world number 14 pairing Marleen van Iersel and Madelein Meppelink.

HOCKEY – Women: Australia vs India

Rio time: 11:00. AEST: Thursday 24:00

Australia’s game against India will be critical to get their campaign back on track as they aim for, at least, a top-four place in the pool to progress to the quarter-finals. It will be the first occasion they have met in Olympic history.

SHOOTING – Men: Double Trap

Rio time: 15:00. AEST: Sunday 04:00

The young rising star of Australian shooting, James Willett, has been in terrific recent form with a win and a third at ISSF World Cup events. Australia last won a medal in the double trap at the Sydney Olympics.

HOCKEY – Men: Australia vs Great Britain

Rio time: 18:00, AEST: Thursday 07:00

A very rare second consecutive loss for the Australian men’s hockey team last night against Belgium, make this game against Great Britain, less than 24 hours later, a critical Game.

BASKETBALL – Men: Australia vs USA

Rio time: 19:00. AEST: Thursday 08:00

The Australians line up against Team USA and will be looking to cause a massive upset. The Aussies are aiming for a historic first men’s Olympic basketball medal in Rio and with a number of NBA players in the side they are well in contention. In Olympic history, the nations have met on seven occasions with Australia looking for its first win. The closest result has been 10 points in an Athens pool game.

SWIMMING – Women: 200m Butterfly

Rio time: 22:54, AEST: Thursday 11:54

A strong event for Australia historically, and it is in safe hands with Madeline Groves and Brianna Throssell in Rio. Groves leads the world in 2016 and has qualified fastest for the final, while Throssell is also into the final and qualified seventh. Australia has won nine medals in this event at the Olympic Games, with just one gold in 1996, won by Madam Butterfly, Susie O’Neill.

SWIMMING – Men’s 100m freestyle

Rio time: 23:03, AEST: Thursday 12:03

Cameron McEvoy is the reigning world champion and turned heads when he posted the fastest time in the event in the non-textile suit era. He looked impressive in the heats and semi-final in Rio and will be favourite for the final. Also impressive was his 18-year-old teammate Kyle Chalmers, who twice lowered his personal best and the world junior record and will likely be pushing for a podium finish.

SWIMMING – Women’s 4x200m freestyle

Rio time: 23:55, AEST: Thursday 12:55

Australia should be on the podium in this event in Rio. We have good depth in this event and have won medals four of the last five Games.

Other sports in action on day one are: Cycling Road, Rugby Sevens and Sailing.

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